Poor road conditions

VILLAGERS of Nayavutoka Village in Nakorotubu, Ra have raised their concerns on bad road conditions which lead to their village through Korovou in Tailevu.

Nayavutoka Village headman Pita Sokirewa Raiqisa said for many years they had raised their concerns about poor road conditions in Nakorotubu but nothing was done.

Mr Raiqisa said women from Nayavutoka Village, who sold their farm produce at the Korovou and Suva markets, had to carry their produce and make an half-an-hour walk to the main road to wait for the bus.

"Most of these women are between the ages of 40 to 50 and they have to travel early morning in order to get their produce to the market on time," Mr Raiqisa said.

"We seek government's assistance because our children also have to use the road in order to get to school which is about a two-hour walk from Nayavutoka Village."

Ra provincial administrator Sitiveni Tavaga said roadworks for Nayavutoka would take some time since PWD workers were still working on areas affected by Cyclone Evan.

Mr Tavaga said government was looking into the concerns raised by the people of Nakorotubu particularly areas which were affected by the cyclone.

"PWD workers have been working round-the-clock in fixing roads and bridges which were damaged during the cyclone," Mr Tavaga said.

"After they finish their rehabilitation work they will work on road upgrades which are on hold in the province of Ra."

He said it was important for the province to get road accessibility since the district of Nakorotubu relied on marine resources for income.